fast-casual
adjective
fast-ca·su·al
ˈfast-ˈkazh-wəl 
-ˈka-zhə-wəl,
-ˈka-zhəl
variants
or less commonly fast casual
: of, relating to, or being a restaurant that combines elements of fast-food service (such as counter ordering) with other elements (such as made-to-order food) that are typical of a full-service restaurant
The fast-casual restaurants typically offer fresh, hand-prepared burgers and fries in an atmosphere that might feature plush chairs and a fireplace but no kiddie playland.—
Karen Robinson-Jacobs
Karen Robinson-JacobsNot content to merely upgrade their menus, some chains are looking at overhauling their entire concept to match the fast-casual approach, whereby meals typically are prepared to order and there is limited table service.—Julie Tamaki
Julie Tamaki
fast-casual
noun
or fast casual
plural fast-casuals or fast casuals
… fast-casuals became the darling of the last decade, driven in part by the effects of the Great Recession, skyrocketing rents and rising food costs.
—Tim Carman
Tim Carman
Examples of fast-casual in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The fast-casual restaurant just announced the launch of a first of its kind bread innovation: croissant toast bread, a buttery mashup practically begging to be enjoyed on a hearty sandwich.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
The fast-casual restaurant’s first Charlotte location will open Wednesday, April 23, serving traditional lobster rolls and other high-end options to both lunch and dinner customers.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 11 Apr. 2025
Historically, fast-food chains have fared the best during recessions as diners seeking cheap meals trade down from full-service or fast-casual eateries to McDonald’s or Taco Bell.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
But fast-casual brands like Chipotle didn’t succeed just by saving on the labor costs of servers and dishwashers.
—Meghan McCarron Phil Donohue, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
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Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
The fast-casual restaurant’s first Charlotte location will open Wednesday, April 23, serving traditional lobster rolls and other high-end options to both lunch and dinner customers.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 11 Apr. 2025
Historically, fast-food chains have fared the best during recessions as diners seeking cheap meals trade down from full-service or fast-casual eateries to McDonald’s or Taco Bell.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
But fast-casual brands like Chipotle didn’t succeed just by saving on the labor costs of servers and dishwashers.
—Meghan McCarron Phil Donohue, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fast-casual
Cite this Entry
“Fast-casual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fast-casual. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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